It’s been five years since the largest oil spill in U.S. history
In April 2010, more than 200 million gallons of crude oil started spewing out of the bottom of the Gulf of Mexico after an explosion on the Deepwater Horizon Oil Rig off the coast of Louisiana.
Some clues about the impact of the toxic disaster made themselves known immediately: oiled brown pelicans, dead baby dolphins, tar balls on beaches...But, as the cleanup continues, the big picture hasn't come into focus yet.
Drew Griffin reports.
--REPORTER PKG-AS FOLLOWS--
FROM HIGH ABOVE, ... FIVE YEARS AFTER WHAT HAS BEEN CALLED THE WORST ENVIRONMENTAL DISASTER IN U-S HISTORY.
THE WATER OF THE GULF LOOKS PICTURE PERFECT
BUT IS IT?
IN THE WEEKS AFTER THE BLOWOUT, OCEAN CONSERVATIONIST PHILIPPE COUSTEAU SAW THE GULF AT ITS WORST.
(Philippe Cousteau)
"My last memory of diving in the Gulf was surrounded by this oily red mess. We had to wear full vulcanized dry suits, thick hard helmets -- basically hazmat diving."
NOW HE'S BACK FOR ANOTHER LOOK.
AROUND THIS ARTIFICIAL REEF, UNDER AN OIL RIG, THE GULF IS TEEMING WITH LIFE
(Nat sound)
"Absolutely awesome!
(Cousteau)
"The water was clear and beautiful and it just makes what I saw five years ago all the more astonishing."
BUT COUSTEAU KNOWS LOOKS... CAN BE DECEIVING.
(Philippe Cousteau)
"It's easy to be fooled by an image ...one of the challenges with ocean conservation is the old adage out of sight out of mind. And it's important to remember that a lot of that oil is not floating on the surface. It is not sticking to the marshes. But it is existing... down at the bottom of the Gulf of Mexico."
Website: Fact Monster, 10 Largest Oil Spills in the World
Website: National Ocean Service, How Does Oil Impact Marine Life?